LOUTH COUNCIL SHOULD BE FINED FOR FAILING TO REMOVE PALLETS
Cllr says local community must be helped
A FORMER mayor of Drogheda and cathaoirleach of the council believes Louth County Council should be fined by the Environmental Protection Agency for failure and inaction to remove or destroy over 100 pallets and wooden electrical cable spools illegally dumped and stored in the ravine between Ballsgrove, Hillview and Rathmullan Park.
Cllr Paul Bell (right) says they to be used in bonfires this week and the land concerned is publicly owned.
“What the residents of these estates have endured is best described as commercial dumping on a large scale facilitated by some in the commercial sector of our town. In some cases unwittingly by not securing the materials and some cases whereby materials were delivered into the area. In recent days Louth County Council took the bizarre decision not to remove or destroy this material despite the knowledge that the material would be burned,’ said Bell.
“In July Louth County Council committed to lead a co ordinated programme with An Garda Siochana to confront anti social behaviour in Rathmullan, St Finian’s Park and Ballsgrove. Anti social behaviour such as joy riding, illegal dumping of domestic waste, burning of domestic waste in public greenspace and activities relating to Halloween bonfire night which has had serious negative impact on the community in recent years.
‘With the exception of increased levels of Garda patrols which has definitely helped lead to a decrease in joy riding activities, none of the other measures promised have materialised.’
He says that included a commitment to reactivate the RAPID area CCTV system.
“My issue is not with the local Council staff who have answered the call of the community when requested to do so and who have also listened to my concerns expressed on behalf of the community. My issue is that the leadership of Council is remote from the citizens forced to endure this unabated attack on their community.
‘And indeed the dismissive manner in which public representatives like me trying to defend and support our communities are treated. This situation has of course been made possible by the destruction of Drogheda Borough Council by the last government, whereby our local government structure has become remote and unresponsive to the citizens it is mandated to serve.’
Bell concluded by suggesting “I believe that the issues which I have experienced and that of some other Councillors confronted by these should be discussed in a forum where all the actors involved should discuss their contribution to and success rate if any in addressing these well highlighted issues.
‘ This is most probably a role for the Joint Policing Forum. I am certainly not throwing in the towel and will continue to do what’s right for the citizens in need of my support,’ a defiant Bell added.